ZF has today produced its 100 millionth EPB unit, the first company in the world to have reached this milestone. The inventor of the EPB motor-on-caliper brake, ZF’s EPB is the true embodiment of an intelligent mechanical system.
EPB is remarkable in its ability to deliver benefits such as enhanced fuel economy due to weight reduction in the brake system. It is a prime example of the electrification of mechanical systems allowing for integration and advanced functions when combined with other vehicle systems, as well as being an important step toward brake-by-wire systems. The technology also helps to enhance driver safety by enabling four-wheel antilock emergency stops and driver convenience and comfort as the system is activated by the touch of a button.
In addition to providing park brake functionality, EPB is a fully integrated part of the brake system with features such as dynamic actuation, brake pad wear sensing and reduced degradation associated with mechanical systems.
Manfred Meyer, senior vice president, Braking Engineering for ZF commented: “EPB is a great success story and today we recognize the engineers, designers, and the employees who produce this technology in locations throughout the world including Europe, the Americas, China and our most recent launch marking the first-ever EPB production in India. EPB is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation. ZF was already a global leader in the foundation brake market in the early 2000’s but sought to transform a purely mechanical service brake function into something much more. Today, the technology is featured on many of the world’s most popular vehicles across the spectrum of small cars through to larger pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles.”
ZF offers a range of EPB solutions including standard EPB, EPBi, which eliminates the need for a separate Electronic Control Unit (ECU) as it is integrated with the electronic stability control system, and EPB for front axles which is more suitable for smaller vehicle segments.
